Why Unqualified Repairs Are Often Dangerous

[retslock]

Electronics dummy here but even I know that the whole idea of a fuse is that it’s built to blow before something more expensive does. If it was a last resort to get you through a gig then wouldn’t you replace it with a proper fuse as soon as you can? Crazy.

 

[agedhorse]

Electronics dummy here but even I know that the whole idea of a fuse is that it’s built to blow before something more expensive does. If it was a last resort to get you through a gig then wouldn’t you replace it with a proper fuse as soon as you can? Crazy.

By that time, the damage was done. The fuse didn’t resolve the actual issue, it just created a new and much more expensive one.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Here's a question for the group.
Does it seem like more people are apt to thinking they know how to repair a tube guitar / bass head than say their car, TV set, furnace, etc.?
Maybe these folks think that "older technology is easier to work on and really you just need to change the tubes?"

If you have tools, you can fix anything. You can also fix it so nobody else can.

 

[Geri O]

See also "audio engineer"

Indeed! And beat me to it!

 

[anderbass]

Here's my blown fuse success story, with a happy ending: (no, not that kind of happy-ending

Back in 2005 my local pawn shop had a mint looking Mesa/Boogie 400+ in a Mesa Road-Ready shock mount rack case, with a Mesa/Boogie 1516BE Road-Ready cab listed for $1200...

But the amp wouldn't power up when the Store's Owner switched it on for me to try out. He removed the fuse and discovered it was blown; he then installed a new AGC-8 amp fuse which blew again!

So I then tested the cab out with another amp and offered the dude $400 (out the door/no tax/no receipt) for the defective 400+ and the Mesa cab. He accepted my offer and I bought it!

So I stopped by my local Radio Shack store on my way home and bought a pack of 8-amp Slo-Blow fuses.

Back at home i discovered one of the (inner-row) Power tubes was hanging down lower, and at a slight angle compared to the other 11 Power tubes... (Mmm, very good clue!) That tube had simply rattled half way out of its socket, and it had tale-tale black Arc marks on one of its pins. I cleaned that Tubes pin up a bit, reinstalled it and discovered it's Bear Claw retaining clamp simply needed to be re-tensioned so the same problem wouldn't reoccur again.

I then installed a new 8 amp slo-blow fuse in the amp, and It powered up & sounded awesome! It never blew another fuse and I went on to successfully gig that rig for serveral years with the same fuse & set of power tubes!

I ended up selling the Mesa 1516BE cab for $500, but still have the 400+ and it still works 19 years later:

 

[6thplanet]

Nice rack! (...no not that kinda rack )

 

[Raf Seibert]

Amateurs! Everyone knows a .22 cartridge fits just as easily.

Riis

Heh, my wife just dropped a .22LR round in my hand. Apparently, it had dropped off my desk to the floor where she found it. Guess I’m all set if I need to replace a fuse.

 

[fdeck]

Heh, my wife just dropped a .22LR round in my hand. Apparently, it had dropped off my desk to the floor where she found it. Guess I’m all set if I need to replace a fuse.

It's not RoHS compliant.

 

[Tassieviking]

Heh, my wife just dropped a .22LR round in my hand. Apparently, it had dropped off my desk to the floor where she found it. Guess I’m all set if I need to replace a fuse.

That would be a very fast blow fuse if it blows.

 

[pie_man_25]

Heh, my wife just dropped a .22LR round in my hand. Apparently, it had dropped off my desk to the floor where she found it. Guess I’m all set if I need to replace a fuse.

I believe the professionals would call this a fast blow fuse with audio-visual notification systems

 

[Tassieviking]

I believe the professionals would call this a fast blow fuse with audio-visual notification systems

Audio-Visual I like but I am not too keen on getting a physical notification if that fuse blows.

 

[pie_man_25]

Audio-Visual I like but I am not too keen on getting a physical notification if that fuse blows.

That makes you, me, and whoever's on the safety committee in your workplace.

 

[Raf Seibert]

Just for the record, my comment was intended as a jest, and, for the record, took place in my home. I have been retired for twenty years.

 

[Michedelic]

I have a friend that does this on a regular basis. He is an
elevator technician. It is just wrong at so many levels.

I’m floored by this.